15
The sale went without hassle and the blueprints were amazing, Tosh excited once they were in her data banks and she could do her own measurements.
Jack was pleased Ianto wanted the homestead for their home and he watched as Ianto ordered the movers around with gusto, the furniture coming in transforming the empty shell into something wondrous.
"I need more books" Ianto muttered as he glared at the end of the living room that was all wood stained shelving, "This is a reading nook. How the hell can I have a reading nook without fucking books?"
"I have boxes and boxes of them in the hub" Jack said as he stepped in behind him, "Don't' worry babe. First editions, Sherlock Holmes and stuff. Lots."
"I've not been to look at the gravesite yet" Ianto said sadly, "I want to see where we are going to lay them all to rest."
"OK baby" Jack crooned, leading Ianto out the back door and across the back lawn.
"We can put a nice garden in here, a little path, yah?" Jack was talking softly and they neared the copse of trees, "See? We can put a nice seat here under the trees so you can sit and talk to them?"
Ianto looked at the sunny, slightly elevated spot and felt a great peace there.
Yes.
He nodded and snuggled in against Jack, the warmth of the sun nothing compared to his captain and he hummed as they swayed with the breeze.
"I really like this place" Ianto whispered.
"Owen would have hated it" Jack laughed, "Imagine his face at all the grass."
Ianto laughed softly as he snuggled and realized he was acting out of character too.
He never sought comfort like this, never tried to gain affection from Jack.
To know Jack was so willing to provide was a blessing and Ianto closed his eyes as the warmth washed over him.
"I love it here" he whispered, "Let's stay."
"Yes baby" Jack smiled as he smelt his hair, smelling the apple shampoo Ianto always sued.
Martha was running across the lawn, her face full of glee, "We cracked it, we're into the bottom level!"
"And?"
"We can fit your entire old hub in there, it's huge!" she gushed, "It is bomb proof. I suggest we make that the new hub, level two the archives and level one beneath the homestead the barracks and armory."
"Sounds like a plan" Jack nodded.
"The ceilings are as high?" Ianto asked suddenly, "Predators can be big, I don't want one hitting its head."
Martha blinked as she stared at him.
"They will be back" Ianto told her, "This isn't over. It's really just beginning."
"Well, colour me buggered!" Mickey sighed, "They scare the shit out of me."
"Just stay behind me, they will not harm those they consider my unit." Ianto replied as he tightened his grip on Jack to match the hug Jack had tightened first.
"So, all this land. What are we going to do to say we need all this land?" Mickey looked around with annoyance.
"Get some dogs, say we are a bloody dog rescue or something" Ianto snapped, "I don't know."
Jack was surprised by the anger and wondered he was getting tired or feeling ill again.
"They would be great security actually" Martha said as Tish looked around with her hands on her hips, "A pack of dogs roaming about would be a great early warning system if anyone decided to 'visit' unexpectedly."
"Like Unit" Ianto huffed.
Jack didn't say it but he thought of their tail, agreeing.
They needed all the security they could get.
"Once we have Tosh up and running and the CCTV as well as motion sensors, I agree that some dogs would also be a good idea. Makes them less likely to expect us to have tech as well." Jack nodded.
"Right, so we OK for tonight?" Jack asked as he felt Ianto sag, "Let's have something to eat and then get some rest. We can take tomorrow to get our own areas organized; give us all a chance to settle in."
Jack led Ianto to the back bedroom that had large French doors to the back yard, where he hoped a garden might go one day and settled him on the bed.
He was asleep before Jack had his shoes off and he sighed softly as he pulled a blanket up over him. He hadn't eaten again.
Jack went back out to find Martha sitting at the table, like she was waiting for him.
"The lethargy is getting worse" she said without preamble and he smiled at the young doctor.
"What are you not telling us?" she demanded.
"It's up to Ianto to tell, not me but I am worried" Jack agreed, "It is getting worse, not better. Maybe now we are here, settling he will too. I worry that it's stress."
"You think he would let me assess him?" she asked as she rose to join her husband below.
"Yes, if you say it as a demand or requirement, he is too polite to say no" Jack replied.
He hoped she would find something they could sort out.
The options going through his brain were all coming up as unacceptable.